Cabinet construction for radio receivers



Dec. 6, 1938. F CUTTW Er AL 2,138,959

CABINET CONSTRUCTION FOR RADIO RECEiVERS Filed March 13 1934 2Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS FULTON Curr/N6 HOWARD A ATES ATTORNEY Dec. 6,1938. F. CUTTING El AL CABINET CONSTRUCTION FOR RADIO RECEIVERS FiledMarch 13, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2

INVENTOR'S FULTON CUTTING flown/20 A. 64 1'55 ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 6,1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFiCE CABINET CONSTRUCTION FOR RADIORECEIVERS Application March 13,

3 Claims.

This invention relates to the construction and mechanical arrangement ofradio receiving apparatus and more particularly to the construction andarrangement of radio receiving apparatus within cabinets of unusualshape.

It is an object of this invention to provide apparatus of the classdescribed which may be disposed within unusually shaped cabinets withoutinterfering with the electrical operation and efficiency of the radioreceiving apparatus.

It is a further object of this invention to provide apparatus which,although disposed in a cabinet of unusual appearance, is neverthelessrelatively simple to manufacture and install and in which the variousparts are readily accessible for inspection or replacement.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide apparatus ofthe class described in which the necessary operating controls extend outof the cabinet and are readily accessible for operation and easily andsmoothly operable to control the apparatus with a high degree ofprecision.

Still other objects and advantages of our invention will be apparentfrom the specification.

The features of novelty which we believe to be characteristic of ourinvention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. Ourinvention itself, however, both as to its fundamental principles and asto its particular embodiments will best be understood by reference tothe specification and accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is asectional View of one form of apparatus according-to our invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the lower half;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the base of the cabinet before theinstallation of any apparatus therein, and

Fig. 4 is a detail View showing one way of mounting a loud speaker inthe base.

In accordance with one aspect of our invention, we provide a cabinetwhich may consist of two parts. According to another aspect of ourinvention the two parts are physically separate units mechanicallyinterconnected and one may be supported for rotation upon the other.

In the form herein shown we have illustrated a cabinet such as thatshown in Design Patent No. 90,586 in the form of a globe mounted upon abase on an axis inclined thereto, the globe being rotatable upon theaxis. In this particular embodiment of our invention preferably part ofthe radio receiving apparatus is disposed within the globe itself andpart within the base or pedestal and the necessary connection betweenthe two portions of the apparatus is made by means 1934, Serial No.715,291

of leads which preferably are concealed within a hollow tubular supportextending from the pedestal and supporting the globe for rotation.

We prefer to mount the radio receiving apparatus or chassis consistingof the signal selecting and amplifying apparatus at least in part orwholly within the globe with the controls extending out of the globe atthe equator on opposite sides, the chassis being rigidly secured withinthe globe for rotation therewith and the loud speaker and part or all ofthe power supply apparatus being located within the pedestal.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 1, reference number I designatesthe hollow base or pedestal, 2 the hollow globe, and 3 the supportextending from the pedestal to the globe. The base may consist of ahollow generally pyramidal member of the desired shape which may beformed of any suitable material, but we prefer to utilize moldablematerial of the nature of phenol resins which may be readily molded tothe desired shape and provided with an attractive finish and coloring.

Preferably the bottom of the pedestal is left open to permit of theinstallation of apparatus therein without requiring openings in thesides thereof for the purpose, and if sound reproducing apparatus is tobe mounted within the pedestal, openings will be formed preferably onopposite sides thereof to permit free egress of the sound. For example,in the form shown, in which the base is a truncated hexagonal pyramid,vertical slots 4 may be provided on opposite sides of the pedestal.

The base of the pedestal after assembly may be closed by a cover plate 5secured in position by suitable bolts engaging tapped holes in thepedestal and the base plate may be perforated as at 6 to provide for thecirculation of air into the base, both for the purpose of cooling theapparatus therein and also for acoustic purposes.

In order to render these perforations effective, feet may be provided tosupport the base out of contact with the surface on which it rests andthese feet may conveniently be small pads I of felt, rubber or similarmaterial.

The globe itself is preferably formed in two parts correspondingrespectively to the Northern and Southern Hemispheres divided along theEquator. Preferably diametrically opposed notches Ill and II will beformed in each hemisphere to assist in positioning the two hemispherescorrectly with respect to each other. Also in the polar zone we preferto provide a number of meridian openings or slots l2 to permit the freecirculation of air through the globe for cooling purposes.

In the formation of the hemispheres it is desirable to provide a numberof supporting lugs I3, for example, three in number spaced 120 degreesaround the hemisphere and on the same parallel of latitude, on which thechassis may rest. These lugs may be provided with tapped holes M toreceive screws to secure the chassis in position.

Preferably the hemispheres, like the base or pedestal, are molded ofsuitable material of the nature of phenol resin and the various notches,lugs and openings are formed when the material is molded, as will beunderstood. Appropriate tapped metallic inserts may be utilized toprovide the seats for the various bolts.

In addition to the lugs l3 previously described, we may also provideadditional lugs l5 diametrically disposed within the bottom hemisphere.Secured to the said lugs l5 we may provide a dished reinforcing strip l6having its opposite ends secured upon the lugs I5 as by bolts l1 andhaving an opening at its center.

The base or pedestal may be provided at the center of its top with anopening l8 and the material may be reinforced at this point bythickening and by the provision of an annular rib I9 and outwardlyextending ribs 2! The central opening I8 is adapted to receive thesupporting member 3 which is provided with a locating boss 2| and atubular portion 22 arranged to extend into the opening 18. The lower endof the tubular portion may be threaded to receive a nut 23 to secure thesupporting arm 3 on the pedestal. The supporting arm 3 is preferably ahollow member to permit of the necessary leads being passed through itfor the interconnection of the apparatus in the pedestal and in theglobe.

The supporting arm 3 is preferably provided with a locating annularflange 24 adjacent its upper end which engages within an annularlocating depression in the South Pole of the Southern Hemisphere and isprovided with an upwardly extending portion preferably of reduced areaand threaded to receive nuts 25 and 26 and washers 27 and 28 and also toreceive the dished member l6 which is provided with a central openingfor the purpose.

By this construction it will be seen that the globe is readily rotatableupon the supporting member 3. Preferably the supporting member 3 is notrotatable upon the pedestal, but it will be understood that it may bemade so if desired.

Unless slip ring connections are used it will be found desirable toprovide a stop 29 to prevent rotation of the globe to more than 360degrees, since this might result in injury to the leads. It will beunderstood, however, that if slip ring and brush contacts are used theglobe may be freely rotatable by the omission of the limiting stops.

The radio receiver chassis is preferably mounted upon a base plate 39circular in form and preferably'having its central portion cut away toaccommodate a tuning drum.

The form of radio receiving circuit provided forms per so no part of thepresent invention, it b eing understood that any suitable circuit may beutilized, the parts being disposed in desired position upon the baseplate 30 on opposite sides thereof. For the purposes of simplicity wehave shown the receiving apparatus diagrammatically on this plate, 3irepresenting tubes.

We prefer to mount the tuning condenser 32 on the upper side of theplate 30 and with its operating shaft 33 projecting outwardly from theglobe on the equator along the line of the radius.

Secured to the opposite end of the tuning condenser shaft we preferablyprovide a tuning indicator consisting of a circular disk 34 having acylindrical flange at its periphery, and to this flange we preferablyattach a dial strip 35 to provide a drum type indicator. An opening orwindow 36 may be provided at the desired point in the NorthernHemisphere exposing a small portion of the drum dial and preferably asmall lamp is placed behind the dial to render it readily legible whenthe set is in operation.

A volume control 31 is mounted on the chassis and may be of any suitabletype, but preferably the control shaft for operating the volume controlextends outwardly from the globe diametrically opposite the tuning shaftand in line therewith. Operating knobs of any suitable type may beattached to these two shafts.

Preferably the switch for turning the receiver on and off will beincorporated with or actuated by the volume control shaft, so thatrotation thereof first throws the switch from off to on position andfurther rotation adjusts the volume control for increasing volume and,conversely, r0- tation in the opposite direction first decreases thevolume and finally operates the switch turning the receiver off. Sincethe specific mechanism for producing this operation is well known in theart and forms per se no part of my invention, it is not shown ordescribed in detail.

For the purpose of locating the upper hemisphere in proper position wemay provide an equatorial ring 39 having diametrically opposed upwardlyoffset portions 46 and also having inwardly projecting ears 4!corresponding in number and location to lugs 42 formed at the equatorialline on the Southern Hemisphere. The lugs 42 are provided with tappedopenings and the ears with openings to permit the engagement of bolts 43passing through the equatorial ring into lugs 42, whereby the equatorialring is secured upon the Southern Hemisphere.

The ring is provided with an annular depression 44 of the proper size toreceiver and properly locate the Northern Hemisphere or cover, whichpreferably fits snugly within the annular depression.

For the purpose of securing the Northern Hemisphere in position we mayprovide a retaining strip 45 generally conforming in shape to theinterior of the globe and having a slight clearance therefrom andsecured at its opposite ends to the chassis plate 30. The strip 45carries at a point corresponding to the North Pole a securing bolt 46 ofsuflicient length to project through the Northern Hemisphere to receivea retaining nut 41 and, if desired, a second cap nut.

The loud speaker 50 may be of any suitable type, but is preferably someform of direct acting sound producer which does not require a horn. Aso-called dynamic cone is preferably used and may be mounted in the baseor pedestal.

For this purpose there may be provided a plate 5| of sufficient widthand of the proper shape tofit snugly within the pedestal and against theinner faces thereof, thereby dividing the space within the base into twocompartments and for the purpose of properly positioning the plate, ribs52 and 53 may be formed on the inner faces of the pedestal and mayterminate in rectangular ribs 54 and 55 on the under side of the top ofthe pedestal.

The plate may have a bent portion 55 at its bottom and is preferablyprovided with an opening 51 of the same shape and size as the soundradiating diaphragm of the loud speaker and an additional bent portion58 at the top. Forwardly offset ears 59 may be formed at the top to fitwithin the rectangular ribs 54 and 55, the space within which may befilled with felt or similar material.

The loud speaker may be bolted or otherwise suitably secured to theplate 5| which, in turn, is held in position within the base by theengagement of the flat portion 56 against bosses 69 and 6! on the bottomof the base, by the engagement of the sides of the plate against theribs 52 and 53, and by the engagement of upwardly extending tongues 62and the ears 59 within and around the rectangular ribs 54 and 55.Suitable bolts may be provided securing the bottom portion 56 againstthe bosses 60 and GI.

In the form shown, 63 designates generically any suitable power supplyapparatus which, for instance, may comprise a transformer, rectifier andfilter circuit, and which may also be placed within the base and mountedin any suitable manner upon the loud speaker so that all of theapparatus within the base may be removed simply by removing the coverplate 5 and the bolts which hold the plate 5| against the bottom of thepedestal.

The mounting of the loud speaker in this manner prevents the surging ofair pressure waves around the edge of the loud speaker diaphragm, whichwould occur if the plate 5| were not provided, and is of considerablebenefit in improving the tone quality of the receiver.

While we have shown and described certain preferred embodiments of ourinvention, it is clear that modifications and changes may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of our invention, as will beunderstood by those skilled in the art.

We claim:

1. In radio receiving apparatus, in combination, a hollow base, atubular support mounted on said base, a cup-like member mounted forrotation on said tubular support, radio receiving apparatus disposed ona plate secured to said cup-like member for rotation therewith, agenerally arcuate brace secured to said plate and extending upwardlytherefrom, a second cup-like member engaging said first cup-like member,and forming therewith a complete enclosure for said radio receivingapparatus, means carried by said brace for securing said second cup-likemember in position, and controls for said receiving apparatus extendingexteriorly of the enclosure and independently operable irrespective ofthe rotation of said enclosure.

2. In radio receiving apparatus, in combination, a base, a supportmounted on said base, a cup-like member mounted on said support forrotation, said member having supporting lugs formed on the insidethereof, a U-shaped plate secured to said lugs, radio receivingapparatus including a tuning element secured to said plate and having atuning drum disposed within the U opening in said plate, a secondcup-like member cooperating with said first cup-like member to form acomplete enclosure, and controls for said apparatus extending throughsaid enclosures, one of said controls being connected to operate saidtuning element.

3. Radio receiving apparatus comprising, in combination, a hollowtapering base having sound emitting openings therein, a sound reproducerpositioned within said base, a hollow tubular support extending fromsaid base and having its axis inclined to the vertical, a hollowhemisphere mounted on. said supporting arm for rotation about saidinclined axis, radio receiving apparatus positioned within said hollowhemisphere and secured thereto for rotation therewith, an equatorialring arranged tobe secured to said hollow hemisphere, a second hollowhemisphere arranged to be mounted upon said equatorial ring and formingwith said first hemisphere a complete enclosure for the apparatustherein contained, controls for said apparatus having shafts extendingout of said first hemisphere and terminating exteriorly thereof, controlknobs mounted on the projecting shafts, the controls being independentlyoperable irrespective of the position thereof due to the turning of thesphere upon its axis, and connections between said sound reproducingapparatus and said radio receiving apparatus, said connections beingpositioned entirely within and enclosed by said base, hollow arm and thehousing formed by said hemispheres.

FULTON CUTTING. HOWARD A. GATES.

